Pattaya motorcycle taxi rider threatens to kill 2 foreigners over fare dispute

[snoop1130]

Pictures courtesy of Pattaya Mail.

 

Pattaya Police yesterday arrested a Thai motorcycle taxi rider after he turned into a knife-wielding thug after a row with two foreign passengers over fare prices. According to reports, the taxi driver threatened to kill both foreigners during the altercation.

 

The incident kicked off on Pattaya Second Road near Soi 6/1 early yesterday evening. Pattaya Police received a call about a motorcycle taxi rider waving a knife at foreign tourists. The man, who was around 50-60 years old and wearing an orange motorcycle taxi uniform, was captured on camera by passersby attempting to assault two unidentified foreign men with a knife. Several individuals, both Thai and foreign, tried to intervene to stop him.

 

Following the report, the Pattaya Police quickly arrested the suspect, identified as Worapol Naroj, who operates as a motorbike taxi driver near the Pattaya Night Bazaar, reported Pattaya Mail.

 

In his statement to the police, Worapol claimed that the passengers attempted to lower his fare to 40 baht per person, half of the originally agreed upon fare of 80 baht per person. The identity of the foreign passengers is currently unknown.

 

An eyewitness, 31 year old Alessandro Somsaen, who was present at the scene, said that a fight broke out between the suspect and the foreigners while he was celebrating Songkran near the road.

 

Full Story: https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/crime/pattaya-motorcycle-taxi-rider-threatens-to-kill-2-foreigners-over-fare-dispute

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-04-14

 

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[bristolgeoff]

I would ask the farangs what was the price for the fare in the first place.Being pattaya maybe the driver was trying his luck maybe.I don,t know but showing a knife and saying i will kill you will not go down well  around town

[smedly]

160b for a 2km fare - is he having a laugh, max 100b

 

30b minimum fare for 1km -  10b for 1 extra km and 5b for each km thereafter is the official fare

[sammieuk1]

Happy stabkran for 40 Baht pp hub of closet psychos ???? 

[Celsius]

56 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Pattaya Second Road near Soi 6/1

One of the classiest places in the country 

[simon43]

[quote]

...

In his statement to the police, Worapol claimed that the passengers attempted to lower his fare to 40 baht per person, half of the originally agreed upon fare of 80 baht per person.

...

[/quote]

 

2 passengers?  The bike rider probably tried the old trick of saying '80 baht' when they asked the cost to the destination, but upon arriving at said destination the bike rider then says "that's 80 baht PER person".

[Lemsta69]

1 hour ago, bristolgeoff said:

I would ask the farangs what was the price for the fare in the first place.Being pattaya maybe the driver was trying his luck maybe.I don,t know but showing a knife and saying i will kill you will not go down well  around town

What farang? The dude in the Argentina strip ain't a farang.

[Sqoop]

The win taxi riders are fine until you find one that is a nutter. I shopped in Central last week and used the first win setup on the left on beach road.

 

I always give the destination, jom tien, then ask the price. They said 100 baht, I agreed but then they grumbled and said tuk Mark. (too cheap) the rider then took off like a maniac. Almost threw me off the back of the bike. 

 

These guys are fine until they have some mad grievance and then they are crazy. I stopped the ride early with no tip. 

[webfact]

Bike Taxi Rider Threatens Foreign Tourists In Pattaya
by TNR Staff 

 

 

AN ELDERLY motorcycle taxi rider chased two Hong Kong tourists with a fruit knife in Pattaya after a dispute broke out over the fare of a kilometre-long ride, Thai Rath newspaper said this afternoon (Apr. 14).

 

Mr. Worapon Naroj, 70, who is usually based in front of a condominium near Central Festival Pattaya shopping centre, told reporters that the two Hong Kong Chinese men asked for a ride to go enjoy Songkran in front of some beer bars in Soi 6, Second Pattaya road.

 

This distance is about a kilometre so he asked for 80 baht each, or 160 baht in all, and they agreed to it.

 

Full story: https://thainewsroom.com/2023/04/14/bike-taxi-rider-threatens-foreign-tourists-in-pattaya/

 

-- © Copyright  THAI NEWSROOM 2023-04-15

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

[Jingthing]

4 hours ago, simon43 said:

[quote]

...

In his statement to the police, Worapol claimed that the passengers attempted to lower his fare to 40 baht per person, half of the originally agreed upon fare of 80 baht per person.

...

[/quote]

 

2 passengers?  The bike rider probably tried the old trick of saying '80 baht' when they asked the cost to the destination, but upon arriving at said destination the bike rider then says "that's 80 baht PER person".

Almost definitely. 

[webfact]

Pattaya Motorcycle Taxi Rider Who Allegedly Threatened Passenger With a Knife Over 40 Baht Arrested
By Tanakorn Panyadee

 

 

Pattaya — Pattaya Police yesterday arrested a Thai motorcycle taxi rider who allegedly threatened foreign passengers with a knife over a fare disagreement.

Around early evening yesterday, April 13th, police officers were notified of a man who appeared to be waving a knife at foreign tourists on Pattaya Second Road near Soi 6/1.

 

 

The man, aged about 50-60 years old, was wearing a distinctive orange motorcycle taxi uniform. He was recorded by pedestrians as he outrageously tried to assault two unidentified foreign men with a knife. Many people both Thai and foreign alike tried to stop him, according to a recording.

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2023/04/14/pattaya-motorcycle-taxi-rider-who-allegedly-threatened-passenger-with-a-knife-over-40-baht-arrested/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2023-04-15

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

[prakhonchai nick]

The motorcycle taxi driver should not  only be heavily fined and lose his licence for conveying 2 passengers on his bike, but for having a deadly weapon in his possession in public, and using it in a threatening manner,  a long custodial sentence is warranted.  Many would argue that a deaath sentence is warranted. Time to get rid of all the thugs and mafia!

[jacko45k]

I would suspect the passengers thought it was 80 baht total, the WIN guy  thought it was 80 baht apiece. The latter sounds unlikely as one would expect to negotiate the total fare... (not sure, I don't do 3-up rides). Perhaps the driver tried it on, and the argument got out of hand. Anyhow, way to go, exhibiting the welcome some Thais will make for foreign tourists! I expect a good Samaritan WIN driver story will be coming along soon. 

[bradiston]

3 different sources quoted for this piece of non news!

 

Virtue signalling ON

I took a win from Jomtien bus station to Pratamnak Soi 4/5 after a nightmare journey from Manila to BKK. I never asked for the price. Gave him 100 and a "Happy Songkran". He was extremely grateful. What's wrong with people they can't give a bit extra? It's maybe £1. Get real. Wins have to make a living.

Virtue signalling OFF

[hioctane]

The farangs probably didn’t know and thought he meant 80 baht total. Usually it is per person. That is why you always have to follow it up with “total?” when confirming the price.

[jacko45k]

2 minutes ago, bradiston said:

3 different sources quoted for this piece of non news!

 

Virtue signalling ON

I took a win from Jomtien bus station to Pratamnak Soi 4/5 after a nightmare journey from Manila to BKK. I never asked for the price. Gave him 100 and a "Happy Songkran". He was extremely grateful. What's wrong with people they can't give a bit extra? It's maybe £1. Get real. Wins have to make a living.

Virtue signalling OFF

100 baht is not maybe £1, not even close. I slip them 50 baht for most rides and never have an issue...... chuck a few Thai words at them and they seem less avaricious. 

[HuskerDo2]

Such a silly situation over such a small amount of money. Split the difference and call it a misunderstanding and move on.

[bradiston]

1 minute ago, jacko45k said:

100 baht is not maybe £1, not even close. I slip them 50 baht for most rides and never have an issue...... chuck a few Thai words at them and they seem less avaricious. 

I meant the extra over the normal fare, probably 50 THB. After a 12 hour journey, why waste time arguing or haggling? It's 50 THB! It's Songkran. I'm tired. I got the last bus from BKK to Pattaya by minutes. I just wanted to get home. End of. Tot up the extra it costs you at the end of every month. Probably peanuts. I rarely take a Win.

[2baht]

9 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The man, who was around 50-60 years old

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Mr. Worapon Naroj, 70,

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The man, aged about 50-60 years old,

Deep, investigative journalism, well done. You get my vote for the Pulitzer!

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, bristolgeoff said:

I would ask the farangs what was the price for the fare in the first place.Being pattaya maybe the driver was trying his luck maybe.I don,t know but showing a knife and saying i will kill you will not go down well  around town

Rather spoils the otherwise saintly image of the area.

[jacko45k]

2 minutes ago, bradiston said:

I meant the extra over the normal fare, probably 50 THB. After a 12 hour journey, why waste time arguing or haggling? It's 50 THB! It's Songkran. I'm tired. I got the last bus from BKK to Pattaya by minutes. I just wanted to get home. End of. Tot up the extra it costs you at the end of every month. Probably peanuts. I rarely take a Win.

You seem fixated on your circumstances, after a long trip. Not sure what that has to do with the events here.. were they perhaps on the same flight from Manila and ended up at soi 6/1?  Thais are known to get angry quite quickly if they feel they are being underpaid... that said, a few nationalities can also be quite cheap, and get heated if they feel they are being overchargedm after an agreed upon fare is doubled! The story is about him waving a knife about and threatening people with a stabbing. 

[bbbbooboo]

Hmmm….. the usual mature response to adversity ,by a Thai male I see ?

[bradiston]

3 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

You seem fixated on your circumstances, after a long trip. Not sure what that has to do with the events here.. were they perhaps on the same flight from Manila and ended up at soi 6/1?  Thais are known to get angry quite quickly if they feel they are being underpaid... that said, a few nationalities can also be quite cheap, and get heated if they feel they are being overchargedm after an agreed upon fare is doubled! The story is about him waving a knife about and threatening people with a stabbing. 

Yeah well, is that really a news story?

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, bradiston said:

Yeah well, is that really a news story?

Yes, I think so. The dangers of arguing with WIN drivers..... ! 

[bradiston]

8 hours ago, smedly said:

160b for a 2km fare - is he having a laugh, max 100b

 

30b minimum fare for 1km -  10b for 1 extra km and 5b for each km thereafter is the official fare

Double during Songkran. Unofficial.

 

[digger70]

Here we go Again , a lovely Taxi Mafia story With Excuses.

[RichardColeman]

Ridiculous taxi fare for 1km - I can get a Bolt taxi from Central Pattaya to the Dark Side for 80 baht

[4MyEgo]

9 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Worapol claimed that the passengers attempted to lower his fare to 40 baht per person, half of the originally agreed upon fare of 80 baht per person.

Yep, kill each one of them over 40 baht, life in the LOS is cheap.

 

Anyone have his number, he could become useful in the future ????

[spidermike007]

It is highly likely these guys did not know better, and did not ask the fare to begin with. Best to always do that. After the ride, they likely thought his quote of 160 baht for the 5 minute ride was exorbitant and offered him 80 baht, which would have been reasonable. 

 

However, since this is a totally unregulated industry, and taxi guys feel they are above the law, he went nuts. Trying to injure, or even threatening someone with a knife over such a trifling amount of money is so dumb.

 

Hopefully he will get locked up for a year or two, and learn something. However, the learning part is doubtful. 

[moe666]

1 hour ago, HuskerDo2 said:

Such a silly situation over such a small amount of money. Split the difference and call it a misunderstanding and move on.

It is alot for him, small change for them.